Fernandez is shut out by USA softball

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Three-time Olympic champion Lisa Fernandez did not make the final cut for the U.S. team’s 15-player roster for this summer’s Beijing Games. As one of three "replacement" or alternate players, Fernandez would only be added to the roster if another player was injured. The roster must be submitted by July 1.

Lisa Fernandez, a three-time Olympic gold medalist who has been the face of the United States national softball team since she graduated from UCLA in 1995, was shockingly left off the final 15-person roster for this year’s Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Fernandez was one of three “replacement players” or alternates, meaning she would only be added to the team if another player was injured. The final roster must be submitted by July 1.

“I’ve been in the game long enough to know that nothing is ever guaranteed,” the 37-year old right-hander from Lakewood said. “Was I surprised? Yeah, I guess you could say that, because they only took three pitchers. If I would’ve known they were only going to take three pitchers, maybe I would’ve done things differently.

“But I’m not bitter. I’m not mad. I’m not going to say my stats were so much better than anyone else’s.

“I just wish I could’ve gone out on my own terms, that I would’ve had the opportunity to lay my cleats down on the field.”

Ultimately, USA softball coach Mike Candrea decided to go with the three-pitcher rotation of left-handers Cat Osterman, Monica Abbott and right-hander Jennie Finch. In the past, the U.S. team has carried four pitchers.

The news caught Fernandez’s teammates off guard, too.

“She is one of the greatest players to put on the USA uniform. Just to take the field with her for the last six years is something that’ll go down as one of my greatest memories,” said Jessica Mendoza, who was named to her second Olympic team Friday.

Fernandez has been in the circle in each of the three gold medal games the United States has won. Her toughness, determination and competitive fire have made her the team’s unquestioned ace, and an icon in the sport.

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, she hit .545, setting a new record for an Olympic tournament.

After that, she took a three-year break from the national team to start a family, and hadn’t quite made it back to the top of her game.

Sue Enquist, who coached Fernandez at UCLA and has been a part of all 11 of UCLA’s national titles, said she was stunned by the decision.

“I’m looking at this from a purely strategic point of view,” Enquist said. “I know Lisa is in the twilight of her career, but if the roof caves in, and you’re in the cooker, it’s nice to be able to look down in that dugout and have Lisa Fernandez as an option.

“What separates her from everyone else who has ever played the game for UCLA or even the Red White and Blue, is her ability to stay calm in the cooker. And that’s what wins championships, that’s what wins gold medals.”

U.S. national team coach Mike Candrea said that he wanted Fernandez on the team, and was hoping she’d make it back to her 2004 form.

“She is still in my eyes the best player who has ever played this game,” Candrea told the Associated Press. “I wanted her to go out on top.”

Fernandez said she decided to make a comeback about a year and a half ago, because she felt the U.S. team still needed her experience and leadership.

“I’ve been taking my son (Antonio) on the road, I have my mom traveling with me, it hasn’t been easy,” she said. “But part of it was that I didn’t want to let them down, I didn’t want to let USA softball down, if they felt like the needed me to be there in terms of leadership.”

The U.S. team has won all three Olympic gold medals, since the sport was added to the Olympic program in 1996. It dominated the Athens Olympics, outscoring opponents by a combined 51-1.

But Wednesday, the U.S. had its 185-game winning streak in pre-Olympic exhibitions snapped when it was no-hit by Virginia Tech’s Angela Tincher.

Without Fernandez, Osterman and Abbott become the staff aces. Mendoza and slugger Crystl Bustos should be the team’s offensive leaders.

“I’m really excited for today, because even though we’ve all been together since September, it hasn’t felt like the team yet,” Mendoza said. “But now we know this is the team we’re going into battle with, everyone knows their roles. I’m ready to go. Bring it on. Let’s get after it.”

Fernandez, who starred at St. Joseph High in Lakewood from 1986-89, pitching 37 no-hitters in 90 career games, was a four-time All-American at UCLA from 1990-93. She won the sport’s Honda Award three times, and became the first softball player to win the prestigious Honda-Broderick Cup to the countries most outstanding female collegiate athlete in 1993.

The Bruins won national championships in 1990 and ’92, and finished second the other two years. Fernandez has been an assistant coach at her alma mater on and off for 10seasons.

“I don’t know if she was on her A-game yet, but she’d turned a corner. You could see it. Her whole body had changed,” said UCLA softball coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, who was also her teammate, and catcher, in their time at UCLA from 1990-93.

“I’m biased, but she’s still the one I’d want in the circle for the gold medal game. She’s never been the hardest thrower, or had the most break on the ball, but she’s a true competitor.”